Mark Twain Elementary School

As my daughter moves to middle school, I would like to thank the teachers and staff at Cowden Elementary for giving her the skills needed for this next step in her journey. The teachers took the time to build relationships with her that will last a lifetime. Thank you, Dr. Norman for leading your teachers and students. Cowden has instilled leadership skills, and given her the tools to be successful, not only in school, but in life. Thank you for everything. She misses Cowden already.

Don't send your children here the staff, especially the vice principle, secretary, and nurse are horrible people and they are horrible to children

Teachers are great. We feel our student is loved and safe at school. It’s close knit and just a good school. The school has increasingly enrolled more low-income students, hence the shift in test scores. But they’re still known as a good school in the community because they’ve maintained their reputation despite challenges.

We are heading into our third year with our child at The Summit. Each year we have been more and more impressed with the level of academic progress, emotional intelligence, & overall character that the school is able to impress upon our child. The project based learning, small class sizes, clubs & extracurricular activities, overall tight-knit relationships between staff/students/families, & service & community learning opportunities are truly world class. While the tuition is an investment, our family views it as one of the most important investments we could make for our child & our family. My partner and I attended public school and had a fine experience, but after our first tour of The Summit, we both left completely in awe. Our child is learning things that we didn’t learn until a much older age, reading well beyond their grade level, & developing meaningful connections other other students & staff. They put a lot of focus on presentation and public speaking skills, partner & group projects, research, reading, & writing skills that we find applicable to the real world. In nearly 3 years we have not had a single issue that has felt unaddressed or unimportant and we are so happy with the way teachers & staff handle disruptions and disagreements. Since all of the families and children apply and are interviewed beforehand, they are able to hand select students and families to ensure that they are a good fit for the school. Students show up eager and willing to learn and I hear from so many of them how lucky they all feel to be at the school, many after having a negative experience in public schools. While I realize not every student will feel like The Summit Prep is a perfect fit for them (and vice versa), it has truly been an incredible and life altering experience for our family. We look forward to being Summit Ravens for many years to come and I hope my personal testimony is helpful as you all search for the best fit for your family! The place & people we choose to shape the hearts and minds of our children is one of the chief duties we have as parents and I feel so proud of the our decision to enroll at The Summit Preparatory.

I have been connected to NCA for many years, as a volunteer, parent and staff member. I have watched the school continue to grow and improve every year. They have a great partnership with parents in their student's education. This is a school that I would highly recommend to friends and family. I encourage you to check it out.